donovan



(No Model.) 2 Sheets"Sheet 1.

D. J. DONOVAN. GRAPPLING DEVICE FOR HOOPS- No. 530,165. Patented Dec. 4, 1394.

Witnesses: Inventor.

Attorney.

.THE NORRIS vmns co., Fno'm-Lrrnm wasummun. n. c,

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

. .D.J. DONOVAN. GRAPPLING DEVICE FOR RQOPS. No. 530,165. V Y Patented Dec. 4, 1894.

Witnesses: I Inventor.

- fi d/ Mq/ ZYK ma Attqrney- UNITE j STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL J. DONOVAN, OF BUFFALO, NEYV YORK.

vGRAPPLING DEVICE FOR ROOFS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 530,165, dated December 4, 1 894.

Application filed February 8, 1894. Serial No. 499,494- (No model.)

. To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL J. DONOVAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grappling Devices for Roofs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the ac companying drawings, and to figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in grappling devices for use upon the roofs of buildings, by painters or other workmen.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and safe device which can be quickly and reliably secured upon the ridge of a roof and there'rigidly held in position and adapted for the adjustable securement thereto of either the workman or of a loose platform or ladder upon which the workman may stand or sit while performing his labors.

To that end my invention consists of two metallic rods or strips each having its lower portion provided with a hook or hooks for engagement with the lower edges of the shingles or ridge and their upper portions bent at an angle to the lower portions and extending above the apex of the ridge or the ridge piece and adapted to be secured together above and away from the same to form a grappling device for the purpose stated.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section of a roof with my improved grappling device attached. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 shows a modification. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a belt for securing the workman to the grappling device, and Figs. 5 and 6 are front and side elevations of attachments for forming an adjustable platform to be used in connection with the grappling device.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that each twin rod or strip is composed of the lower portion 1 and upper portion 2 which is bent at an angle to the lower portion 1. The material employed is preferably wrought iron or steel and in the form of a fiat strip. The lower portion 1 has the two downwardly diverging arms 3. 3. each provided at its lower end with the upwardly extending hook or bend 4 for engagement with the lower edge of a row of shingles 5 with which the roof is covered. As an additional security an adjustable book 6 is provided, which can be moved up or down in the elongated slot 7 in the portion 1 to fix it in position under a separate row of shingles where it is rigidly secured by the tightening nut 7 upon the screw-threaded shank 8 of the book 6. Wings 9.9. upon the portions 1. 1. serve to prevent the twin parts from can ting or turning out of position.

The parts 2. 2. extend upwardly on either side of the ridge 10 and the ornamental ridgepiece 11,,should there be one, and are secured in the position shown by the bolt 12 and nut 13, just far enough apart to escape contact with the ridge-piece 11 and thereby prevent breakage or mutilation of the same. One of the sets of holes 14. in the parts 2. 2. through which the bolts 12 pass, are preferably made elongated so that if one'side of the roof is at a difierent angle from the other side, or if one of the twin parts is slightly higher or lower than the other owing to the lay of the shingles, the bolt 12 can still be secured in position to hold the parts together.

Upon each part 2, on its outer side, is rigidly secured the ring 15, around which is loosely placed the ring 16. The parts just described form my improved grappling device proper, which, as will be seen, can be quickly adjusted to any part of the ridge and as quickly removed, and when in position will safely sustain any necessary weight in the operation of painting or repairing any portion of the roof. If a painter or workman wishes to stand upon the roof I have provided the belt 17, see

Fig. 4, which is strapped around his waist and provided with a metal loop or ring 18 through which the belt passes.

19 is a snap-hook secured upon one side of the ring. A cord or rope 20 has secured at one end a snap-hook 21 which is engaged with the lower end of the loop 18 upon the belt 17. This cord passes up around a pulley 22, see Fig. 1, and is brought back and secured in the snap-hook 19 upon the loop 18. A workman thus supported can, with spurs in hisshoes, move easily and safely upon a roof of any pitch, from the ridge to the eaves.

In Figs. 1,5, and 6, I have shown a bracket or hanger for supporting the ends of a plank upon which the workman maywalk and which can be raised and lowered upon the sloping side of a roof. It is made from a single flat strip of wroughtiron or steel and consists of the hook 23, the base 2t and the downwardly and inwardly inclined shelf or rest with its outer support 26, for carrying the plank 27. These brackets or hangers are raised or lowered and secured in position by the pulley 22 and cord or rope 20 with its snap-hook 21 in engagement with the hook 23 upon the bracket.

In Fig. 3, I have shown a modified form of grappling, device in which one of the twin parts is replaced by the metal strip 28 with its single lower end provided with the hook 29 adapted for engagement with the lower edge of the ridge 10 and its upper end having the screw-threaded extension 30 bent at an angle to the portion 28 and adapted to be secured to the part 2, by the nut 21, around and away from contact with the ridge-piece 11.

I claim- 1. A grappling device for use upon the roofs of buildings consisting of two metallic rods or strips each havingits lower portion provided with a hook or hooks for engagement with the lower edges of the shingles or ridge and their upper portions bent at an angle to the lower portions and extending above the apex of the ridge or the ridge-piece and adapted to be secured together above and away from the same substantially as and for the purpose stated.

2. A grappling device for use upon the roofs of buildings, consisting of twin metallic rods or strips each having its lower portion provided with hooked wings for engagement with the lower edges of the shingles and their upper portions bent at an angle to the lower portions and extending above the apex of the ridge or the ridge-piece and adapted to be secured together, above and away from the same substantially as and for the purpose stated.

Agrappling device for use upon the roofs of buildings consisting of twin metallic rods or strips each having its lower portion provided with hooked wings and a separate hook adjustable thereon, all for engagement with the lower edges of the shingles and their upper portions bent at an angle to the lower portions and extending above the apex of the ridge or the ridge-piece and adapted to be secured together above and away from the same substantially as and for the purpose stated.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DANIEL J DONOVAN. Witnesses:

W. T. MILLER, T. P. KERSTEN. 

